This Nebraska Go-Kart Stop Has Two Tracks, One For Speed And One For Drifting

One go-kart track here has slick spots built in on purpose, so your kart can slide sideways through the turns. The other track is all about speed, with bridges and a figure-eight layout.

That pairing alone makes me want to pull off the interstate. Then you add bumper boats, water slides, a handmade mini golf course with caves and waterfalls, and a retro arcade.

I like how this Nebraska stop keeps things simple. The karts are classic, the games feel old-school, and the whole lot lights up after dark.

I can’t imagine a family road trip that wouldn’t improve with a few laps and a little friendly sliding. So which track would you pick first, the fast one or the slippery one?

A Roadside Fun Park You Can Spot From The Interstate

Drivers heading west on Interstate 80 can catch the go-kart sign well before the exit. Cody Go Karts sits in North Platte, Nebraska, close to where I-80 meets Highway 83.

That location makes it a natural pit stop for travelers who need to stretch their legs. It also makes it an easy evening plan for families who live right in town.

The park is a family fun center with a bit of everything packed onto one lot. Go-karts lead the lineup, but they share space with bumper boats, water slides, mini golf, and an arcade.

Here’s what sets it apart from a standard kart stop. There are two separate tracks, and each one asks for a totally different driving style.

One rewards a heavy foot and a clean line through the corners. The other practically begs you to lose a little traction and enjoy the slide.

For a quick detour off a long highway drive, that’s a pretty generous menu. Families crossing the state between bigger cities have long treated it as a welcome break from staring at mile markers.

Short stop or long afternoon, the choice is yours. Just be warned that one lap rarely feels like enough.

Three Decades Of Building, One Project At A Time

Plenty of attractions show up fast and fade just as quickly. Cody Go Karts took the slow road, with owners who have kept building and improving the park for more than three decades.

That long run shows up in the details. New features keep appearing, and the mini golf course gained fresh additions in 2023.

The family-run feel matters here. Owners still work the property, and the work on the grounds is clearly ongoing rather than finished and forgotten.

Big shade trees have grown up around parts of the park over the years. On a hot Nebraska afternoon, that leafy cover makes a real difference.

There’s also a nostalgia factor that’s hard to fake. Parents who rode these karts as kids in North Platte now bring their own children to do the same things.

Places like this have become rarer across the country. Small, independent fun parks don’t always survive the decades, so a long-running one deserves a little appreciation.

None of that requires a speech or a museum plaque. You’ll notice it simply in how much is packed into the place and how much keeps getting added.

The Figure 8 Track Is Built For Bragging Rights

Bridges, turns, and a crossover layout give the Figure 8 Track its personality. It’s the classic outdoor racing option at Cody Go Karts, and it’s the one built for pure speed.

The figure-eight shape means your route loops over and under itself. That keeps every lap a little more interesting than a basic oval ever could.

Drivers can choose single karts or tandem karts. Solo racers get to chase the lead alone, while tandem seating lets a younger rider share the fun with an adult.

Kids who are at least 9 years old and 52 inches tall can drive their own kart. Younger or shorter riders can still join in by riding along in a tandem.

The karts carry a vintage streak, too. Some have been running for decades and are well maintained, so the ride feels a lot like go-karting did years ago.

Rides come with a solid number of laps, which helps when someone demands a rematch. And someone always demands a rematch.

Fair warning for competitive families. The ride home may be filled with very detailed replays of who passed whom on the bridge.

Sideways Is The Whole Point On The Slick Track

Grip is overrated, at least on the Challenger Slick Track. Slick spots are part of the design, so karts slide and drift through the corners instead of hugging them.

It’s the feature that makes Cody Go Karts stand out from a typical kart stop. Most places give you one track and hope you like it, but this one hands you a second personality entirely.

Drifting changes how you drive. You ease into turns, feel the back end swing, and try to steer out of the spin before it gets away from you.

Success isn’t always the goal, though. Half the fun is spinning out in a burst of laughter and getting going again.

Like the speed track, the slick track runs single or tandem karts. That means a parent and child can slide together, which may be the best kind of teamwork.

Road-trippers who stop here often single out the drifting karts as the highlight of the visit. It’s easy to see why, since it feels like a stunt without needing a stunt driver’s skills.

Try the speed track first, then switch over. The contrast is the fun.

Bumper Boats Settle Every Family Rivalry

Somebody in your group is going to get soaked. That’s simply how bumper boats work at Cody Go Karts, and it’s a big part of their appeal.

The boats are one of the park’s most popular attractions. Families who come for the karts often end up making the boats their next stop.

The idea is gloriously simple. Climb into a round boat, steer around the pool, and bump into anyone who looks too dry.

On a scorching summer afternoon, a little splash feels like a reward rather than a problem. Nebraska heat makes a strong case for any attraction involving water.

The boats also level the playing field. A younger kid can bump a grown-up just as hard as the other way around, which tends to make kids very happy.

They’re a nice change of pace after the tracks, too. You still get the friendly competition, but the stakes are mostly about who climbs out the wettest.

A tip for parents with phones in their pockets. Leave them somewhere safe before you start steering toward your cousins.

Over 560 Feet Of Water Slides Under Big Shade Trees

More than 560 feet of water slides wind through the park. On a hot day in North Platte, that number sounds better than almost anything else on the menu.

The slides add a full summer splash zone to Cody Go Karts. A separate kiddie slide sits in the pool area, so the littlest swimmers get their own spot.

Big shade trees grow near the water. That means some leaves can drift into the pool, but it also means a cooler place to hang out between runs.

The water feels refreshing when temperatures climb toward triple digits. Midweek visits may also bring a calmer pool than busy weekends.

For families with kids of different ages, the setup works nicely. Older kids can race down the long slides while younger ones splash closer to the ground.

The slides tend to win over kids who aren’t quite tall enough to drive their own kart yet. Everybody gets a turn at the excitement, just in a wetter form.

Pack towels and a change of clothes. Then plan for at least one person insisting on just one more slide.

Caves, Waterfalls, And A Handmade Mini Golf Course

Crystal Cave and Falls is the name, and it fits. The adventure mini golf course at Cody Go Karts features caves, cascading waterfalls, and plenty of tricky shots.

The course is handmade by the owner. He has reused all kinds of materials in the build, and new pieces keep getting added over time.

A newer cave section joined the course, along with other 2023 improvements. Construction is ongoing, so the layout can look a little different from one season to the next.

Greenery is a big part of the scene. Flowers and plants surround the holes, and there’s a nature walk that fits right in with the setting.

Because it’s a work in progress, some corners feel more polished than others. That’s the charm of a course built by hand rather than ordered from a catalog.

Mini golf also gives everyone a breather between faster rides. Grandparents, little kids, and tired teens can all play at the same easy pace.

Bring patience for the trickiest holes. A waterfall makes a lovely backdrop, right up until your ball rolls into it.

Quarters, Tickets, And A Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken

Yes, there’s a live chicken that plays tic-tac-toe. It’s part of the retro game room at Cody Go Karts, and it’s exactly as delightful as it sounds.

Staff have shared how they train successor chickens when one retires. They’ve also explained the steps they take to keep the birds well cared for.

Beating the chicken isn’t easy, either. Drawing even is a respectable result, and losing is pretty common.

Beyond the feathered champion, the arcade leans old-school. Many machines have run on quarters, which feels wonderfully out of step with modern arcades.

Players can chase high scores and earn tickets for the redemption desk. Prize hunting gives kids a reason to stretch out a handful of coins.

The indoor space is handy when you need a break from the sun. It’s also a fun way to wrap up the day after the outdoor attractions.

Lawn games have been part of the scene too, adding another low-key way to linger. It all adds up to a quirky, small-town arcade experience you won’t find at a mall.

Who Will Have The Most Fun Here

Road-tripping families might be the biggest winners. A stop at Cody Go Karts breaks up a long drive across Nebraska with something everyone can enjoy.

The park suits a wide range of ages. Older kids and adults can tackle both tracks, while little ones can ride tandem, splash on the kiddie slide, or putt around the course.

Birthday parties are a natural fit. Groups can mix and match attractions, and the park offers group event options for parties and team outings.

Teens get their own kind of thrill from the drift track. It feels a little daring without being complicated.

Nostalgia seekers will feel right at home, too. The vintage karts, retro arcade, and long family history all point back to simpler summer outings.

Nebraska Passport Program travelers have also included the park on their route. It’s a fun reason to plan a stop if you’re working through the passport list.

Friendly youth employees help keep things moving at the tracks and attractions. A summer job at a go-kart park sounds like a pretty good gig for a North Platte teen.

Plan Around The Weather And The Season

Timing matters at an outdoor park. Cody Go Karts sits at 805 Halligan Drive in North Platte, Nebraska, a short hop from I-80 and Highway 83.

The main season generally runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Spring and fall bring additional weekend hours, depending on the weather.

Outside of summer, the schedule gets shorter and focuses on weekend afternoons. Some attractions, like the karts, may still be closed early in the season while others are open.

Since everything is outdoors, rain or chilly temps can change plans. Calling ahead on an uncertain day saves a wasted trip.

The whole lot is fully lit. That means summer evenings can keep going after sunset, which is a big plus during hot afternoons.

Ticket packs offer a way to stretch your visit. Buying a bigger pack can give your group better value across rides and attractions.

Snacks are available on site, so nobody has to leave when hunger hits. Food prices stay friendly, which helps when a crew of kids starts asking for treats every hour.

Worth The Exit, And Probably A Second Lap

Two tracks with two personalities make a strong first impression. The rest of Cody Go Karts keeps that energy going long after the last lap.

Speed lovers get bridges and a figure-eight layout. Drift fans get slick corners that turn every turn into a small comedy routine.

Then come the bumper boats, the water slides, and the handmade course with caves and waterfalls. Add a quarter-fed arcade and a tic-tac-toe chicken, and the list gets wonderfully odd.

Few places in Nebraska blend old-school fun with so much homemade effort. The owners’ decades of building show in every corner of the park.

It works as a quick highway break or a full summer evening. Either way, you’ll probably leave plotting your next visit.

Families from North Platte can treat it as a local tradition. Travelers can treat it as the best excuse to stop along I-80.

So when that sign appears on the westbound stretch, consider taking the exit. The slick track is waiting, and somebody in your car definitely needs to learn how to drift.